PHOTO SPEAK: Buhari Inducts NAF Attack Helicopters In Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has inducted three attack helicopters recently acquired by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) at a ceremony that was held at the Eagle Square on Thursday in Abuja.

Buhari during the induction recalled that his administration had commissioned 2 x Agusta 109 Power helicopter gunships procured from Italy about a year ago.

The president said the aircraft had helped to boost the operational capacity of the Nigerian Air Force and improve his administration’s counter terrorism and counter insurgency efforts.

“It is on record that these additional platforms have contributed immensely to the Air Force’s successes and decimation of Boko Haram insurgents,” Buhari said in a speech he delivered at the event.

The president further recalled that he “promised to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities that have bedeviled our country during my inaugural speech as President,” adding that, “You will all agree with me that the successes we have achieved so far have restored our pride and honour the world over. Consequently, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for believing in our government inspite occasional outrages, coming together as a nation, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations, in our strive to bring this menace to an end.”

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, during the event, disclosed that NAF was expecting 17 platforms including 12x Super Tucanos from the United States of America to boost its inventory in the fight against insurgency and terrorism.

Abubakar said the newly inducted helicopters would be deployed effectively in the fight against insurgency other forms of criminality in the country.

According to the Air Chief, NAF had so far procured and inducted 22 aircraft into its inventory.

 “In addition, the NAF through its in-country maintenance capacity building programme is reactivating 3x Alpha jets as well as Mi – 35P helicopter gunship.

“The resultant effect of these acquisition and reactivating of grounded aircraft has been game changing,” he said, adding that “Accordingly, the NAF has flown 36,853 hours in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists since 2015.”

Below are photos from the event:

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